TUESDAY was a tremendous day for Chicago schoolchildren and their teachers.

A deal struck between the teachers union and the school system will give students a desperately needed longer day without requiring teachers to work more hours. It also allows for a better day, not just a longer one, with the hiring of 477 new teachers opening the door for a well-rounded curriculum sorely lacking in elementary schools now.

And, most important, the deal means Chicago will likely avoid a devastating teacher strike….

This was a major win for Chicago teachers, with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the school system doing most of the bending….

But the story doesn’t end here. The biggest mountain — the longer day — has been conquered, but several other issues must be resolved before a final deal is inked, including compensation, a broad recall policy for laid-off teachers and a new teacher evaluation system….

Mr Emanuel made this longer day happen, and for that he deserves a huge thanks….

But try as he might, Mr Emanuel didn’t get the longer day by bullying the teachers union. The union fought back, hard, forcing Mr Emanuel and school leaders to listen. That buy-in, that earned respect, builds the morale that is essential to running a strong school system.

Mr Emanuel and CPS insisted on a longer day, but the union steadfastly refused it without significantly more pay — and who could blame them?... On Tuesday, teachers gave up hope of a big raise that CPS couldn’t afford, and Chicago got its longer day.

[Chicago Teachers Union President Karen] Lewis, parents and this editorial page also repeatedly railed against ‘reform on the cheap’ … CPS shared the same goal and found a way to begin to make that happen with the hiring of 477 teachers, including art, music and physical education teachers….

Tuesday’s deal has all the hallmarks of a successful labour deal.

Teachers got a good deal.

And so did Chicago’s schoolchildren.—(July 24)